Blue Ash police recognized by Hamilton County Police Association

Two Blue Ash Police Department members were recognized at the Hamilton County Police Association’s annual banquet at Montgomery Inn Jan.16.

Officer Beth Roach received the Colonel J. Otting HSCO (Award for Service) Award, while Blue Ash’s former Chief of Police Chris Wallace was recognized with the HCPA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Roach has been a member of BAPD since August 2000. She is very active in the Latino Community, with a goal of improving the relationship between the police and the Latino communities through education and increased communication.

Amongst her many notable accomplishments, Roach makes regular radio appearances on LaMega 97.7 FM on Monday mornings, where she hosts a forum and answers questions listeners have about the police. Additionally, Roach is one of 12 crisis intervention team members trained to work with the developmentally disabled and special needs population.

Furthermore, she serves as a DARE officer, neighborhood liaison officer, ALICE trainer, and works closely with the Off the Streets Program.

Roach’s nomination was supported by the many individuals she’s helped during her time at Blue Ash, who describe her as “compassionate, empathetic, energetic, positive, active, concerned, understanding, helpful, wonderful, inspiring, lifesaving, caring and knowledgeable.”

Wallace served the citizens of Hamilton County for 36 years. Although he retired in May 2013, he continues to serve on the HCPA SWAT Team. He began with Blue Ash in 1977 as a patrol officer, was promoted to captain in 1993, and to chief in 2002. He has been a member of theHCPA SWAT Team for 34 years and spent 8 ½ years on the Drug Abuse Reduction Taskforce as a drug agent and field commander.

In 1987, he made the first ecstasy purchase/arrest in the Cincinnati DEA region and, in a 17-month period, made 200 arrests, seizing a total of $400,000 in illegal drugs, $8,000 in US currency, and 13 weapons.

Wallace is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with an associate’s degree in criminal justice, a Police Executive Leadership College and FBI National Academy graduate.